Bootlegs-Ekki Fyrir Viðkvæma

Minotauro Records
2015

"Ekki Fyrir Viðkvæma" (Not for the sensitive) is the third full-length release for Iceland's Bootlegs. Chronologically it follows a 2007 live CD (the cheekily-titled "Live" which was actually recorded way back in 1998!) while also serving as Bootlegs first batch of new studio material in 25 years! The band's last studio album was "Bootlegs" and that came out in 1990! As I had previously covered the 2014 re-released version of not only "Bootlegs", but also the group's 1989 debut album, "W.C. Monster" I was eager to see how new Bootlegs material would hold up next to the older stuff. I'm happy to report that it sounds great and for all of you who loved this band's early crossover/thrash style I think you will be pleasantly surprised by just how well this band has aged! On Bootlegs latest release (which was incidentally recorded at Stúdió Óskars og Jóns) we have a line-up featuring guitarist/vocalists Jón Símonarsson (Junior), guitarist/vocalist Jón Örn Sigurðsson (Nonni), bassist Ingimundur Ellert Þorkellsson (Elli), and drummer Kristján Ásvaldsson (Stjuni). Having now been active since 2012 or so the current version of Bootlegs seemingly picks up where things left off with 1990's "Bootlegs" with the only slight difference between then and now likely taking place in the lyrical department. One could easily make the argument that this laid-back Icelandic metal band (having now "matured") is better suited to write deeper & more socially-conscious material. It's just a naturally progression especially seeing as "Ekki Fyrir Viðkvæma" plays like it's more grounded and serious. But then again there are only a couple of tracks here in English so maybe it's all in my head? Whatever the case might be, "Ekki Fyrir Viðkvæma" is nothing if not (groovy!) fresh thrash and it cruises effortlessly along with companions like (crunchy) hard rock, straight-up METAL, and old school crossover* riding shotgun! The songs on studio album number three for the Bootlegs lads are actually catchy and these four guys have the whole hooks that kill angle down pat! Frankly-speaking I can't think of a single reason not to snag and bag the latest Bootlegs release and as far as come-back albums go this one gets the golden star of appreciation! It's been a long time that fans have had to wait for these Icelandic warriors to release fresh material, but the wait has resulted in a real bang 'em/slam 'em kind of LP. Available as a digital download from the last link posted above, "Ekki Fyrir Viðkvæma" can also be picked up on CD by heading over to following page in Minotauro Records' store (and that would be right here ladies and gents!). You can also find Bootlegs online by visiting the band here at their Facebook page and I really should mention the fact that Minotauro Records offers a nifty bundle package with all three studio albums from this Icelandic metal band. If you are new to this thrash band that might be the best route to take and it does seem to be rather reasonable at just over forty two dollars.

 

 

*For the kids out there who are not enough to remember what that term used to truly mean we're talking about snarly punk, street-legit hardcore, garage heavy metal and raw underground thrash that has been smashed & bashed together with super glue and duct tape being the only things that are keeping it from falling apart! 

Bootlegs-Bootlegs (2014 Re-Release)

Minotauro Records
2014

Last month I covered "M.C. Monster" (Bootlegs' 1989 debut album and the first of two re-releases from this Icelandic metal band) so this month it's time to cover this self-titled follow-up. Originally released in 1990, with the Metal Archives suggesting that less then 50 vinyl copies were actually sold and are still floating around somewhere out there (whether it was a issue having to do with the LPs being pressed or a lack of proper distribution and/or promotion isn't exactly clear, but either way it in no way, shape or form takes away from the quality of this thrash product!), "Bootlegs" changed the tune of the band somewhat in that it was sung in the band's native language. And while "W.C. Monster" bore all the trademarks of a crossover album (speed/thrash moshing it up with punk/hardcore!) this self-titled album finds the band leaning closer to (pure) old-school thrash. Or for the most part. There's still some punk and hardcore here ("SOD II" as well as "Fuck Off") as well as some flat-out weirdness ("Vögguvísa"). But pound for pound this is thrash metal 101! For those who love the mid-late eighties and even the early nineties thrash era (specifically the more underground or raw thrash scene!) "Bootlegs" offers more then it's fair share of heavenly headbanging!  Remarkably though both "versions" of Bootlegs work. They easily compliment each other as both studio albums echo the same sentiment-Play It Loud and Play It Like It Means Something! For Bootlegs to have conquered their homeland so easily* speaks volumes about the talent and charisma that this thrash metal had back then and even now! These fine gentlemen played with passion and with a sincere purpose. Once you've thrashed your way through both of Bootlegs studio-albums you'll truly understand just who these Icelandic metalheads were and why, despite the hang-ups that were likely involved with being far away from the more rampaging metal scenes, they kept at it and continued to wave the banner of unfiltered, pure as the land that once spawned the group, thrash! Lead vocalist Junior provided the band a captivating front-man with the strength of this outfit lying in it's ability to write heavy material that is technical and pit-worthy. Despite the potential set-back of singing in their native tongue, Bootlegs utilizes the universal language of heavy metal thanks to the blistering lead work of guitarist Nonni! To their advantage, Nonni's playing taps into the thrash metal style of the day while also throwing in traditional and/or classic heavy metal passages. Bootlegs plows through the material at hand and, thanks to the additional feature that is bonus live material**, their sophomore album stands tall and proud! With Minotauro Records once more delivering a stupendous package, "Bootlegs" is front to back/top to bottom (and everywhere fucking in-between fiends!) a hell of a re-release and one that I'm laying my stamp of approval down on! 

      


*Between 1986 and 1991 the band was not only one of the bigger names in Iceland's metal scene, but one of the most respected!

**In addition to the actual album (one which is worth owning just by itself!) the re-release from Minotauro Records tacks on the following cuts:

"Gamli Nói"(bonus track Live 2006) 
"Street Lover" (bonus track Live 2006) 
"Augun" (bonus track Live 2006) 
"Fuck Off" (bonus track Live 2006) 
"Óljóslega Stjórnlaus" (bonus track Live 2006) 
"SOD" (bonus track live 1006) 
"Thrash Attack" (bonus track live 2006)

http://www.minotaurorecords.com/#!cds/cnec

Bootlegs-W.C. Monster (2014 Re-Release)

Minotauro Records
2014

The first of two cult re-releases from our friends over at Minotauro Records, "W.C. Monster" was the full-length debut from Iceland's own (pride and joy) Bootlegs. Initially released in 1989, with the group's only other studio recording (the self-titled "Bootlegs") appearing the following year, "W.C. Monster" is as much a reflection of the times as it is a creative & spontaneously diverse first take from a band mostly-unheard of outside of their native country! As unfortunate as that may be (especially seeing as there is just too much fun to be had given the unrestrained nature of this beast known as "W.C. Monster"!) one would think, fuck, let's make that HOPE that a fine re-release such as this one would finally rip the lid off of this hidden treasure once and for all! Especially seeing as this CD (as LOUD and PROUD as it wants to be!) seems perfectly suited for today's live fast, die even faster heavy fuckin' metal community! Formed in 1986 and (stylistically-speaking at least) aided by the gruff, near punk rock-like voice of lead guitarist Nonni this (oddly-named and criminally underrated) thrash/speed metal band was originally only active until 1991 or so. Since then it's been a case of on-again/off-again with the band reportedly back together once more as we speak. Born not only of some real classic thrash (Metallica, Slayer, Exodus, Anthrax, Voivod, Exciter and early Artillery), but bands as different as Suicidal Tendencies and the Subhumans this (sadly) short-lived band had piss and vinegar in it's veins making "W.C. Monster" a nice little banger of an album! Bootlegs has the fist-fighting fury down pat early on "W.C. Monster" thanks to garage thrasher "At The End..." and from there on out it's either more tender-loving raw thrash we're talking about (from the A bands: Agent Steel, Acrophet and Acid Reign to X, W and Z ones: Xentrix, Wargasm and Zoetrope!) or real nasty (hardcore-leaning) material from a band that could have been construed as trying to do the whole crossover thing! That would be C.O.C., S.O.D. and even D.R.I. although quite honestly this bunch never strayed too far off in that direction. Either way it's a win-win situation as Bootlegs rocks it all the same! Album-wise (or would it be package-wise?) this is what you are looking at with this stellar re-release:

Now that's nice right? Would you like it to get even better though? Yeah? How about we chat about this expanded package's bonus material then! During one of those "on again" moments Bootlegs recorded a live show which ended up being released (in limited fashion just like their two studio albums) in 2006. That show is split up between the two re-releases as a sort of "special treat". So, not only do you get a taste of Bootlegs in the studio (something which is damn fine cooking in and of itself!), but you get to hear one of Iceland's best kept secrets in the wild and unchained! And you know that raw, almost crossover-like band that occasional shows up on tape? Yep, you guessed it. Strip away the "restraints" of a studio and this was one band who took the phrase "lean and mean" to a whole new level! If you're old enough to remember the underground clubs and real dive bar scene of the eighties (where skinheads, greasy looking bikers and long haired thrashers all took the pit at the same time and shared the love along with plenty of blood!) then you'll certainly recognized the live sound that Bootleg cranked out! It comes splashing down like a blast from the past and from the outside looking in it's little wonder that Bootlegs was a local favorite! The bonus material alone made me remissness about those days when punk and heavy metal was still in the early stages of their relationship and wearing your favorite concert tee was a badge of honor not some silly trend. But, that's one story for another time. For now why not head over to Minotauro Records online store where not only can you find this great re-release, but "Bootlegs" (the band's sophomore release which I hope to cover in the next day or two!) and other fantastic gems from heavy metal's heyday! You can find all of that and more right here: http://www.minotaurorecords.com/ while you can check in the band itself by heading to:
https://www.facebook.com/bootlegsiceland